407. Public Image

Public Image
Public Image Ltd.
1978

Tracks
1. Theme 
2. Religion 1 
3. Religion 2 
4. Annalisa 
5. Public Image 
6. Low Life
7. Attack 
8. Fodderstompf 

Is it odd that I enjoy punk a lot more than post punk?  Shouldn't post punk be an improvement?  I can't help feeling we are moving in the opposite direction.  Although considering the dip that music takes in the eighties, I suppose it is something I should get used to.

I guess I can't really claim that the Sex Pistols' lyrics were that much better than this.  At least that just felt like the band was telling us they were angry that they had no future.  I felt like Public Image was trying to teach me something.  The "Religion" tracks were all about how hypocritical organized religions are.  I am aware.  In fact, I think every is aware of that fact by high school.  It just sounded very juvenile to me.

Of course, in "Fodderstompf" they get this lyric in "We only wanted to finish the album with the minimum amount of effort which we are now doing very successfully."  I found this lyric to be very cowardly. If you are making something, you should stand by it.  I just think if you make something that someone doesn't like, your response shouldn't be "well, I really didn't try anyway."

RATING: 1/5

406. Duck Stab!

Duck Stab!
The Residents
1978

Tracks
1. Constantinople
2. Sinister Exaggerator
3. Booker Tease
4. Blue Rosebuds
5. Laughing Song
6. Bach Is Dead
7. Elvis and His Boss
8. Lizard Lady
9. Semolina
10. Birthday Boy
11. Weight Lifting Lula
12. Krafty Cheese
13. Hello Skinny
14. Electrocutioner

I really don't know what to say about this one.  I try and I try with this Book.  But honestly, how I possibly supposed to enjoy this?  For those of you who don't know (oh how I envy your ignorance) this could essentially be described as a horror album.  They speak in cartoonish voices and do their best to scare the pants off of you.  For example, in Birthday Boy the song sounds like the recording of a birthday party where all the guests were massacred.  Ugh.

I looked into this band and I think I threw my neck out rolling my eyes (seriously, if you are not using your neck when you do it, you aren't doing it right).  Apparently this band is an "art collective" which tries to maintain an air of anonymity.  They wear tuxedos, eyeball helmets, and top hats.  They have released over 60 albums, heaven help us, and produce short movies.  Pretentious doesn't even begin to cover it.

I suppose no one actually listens to this music for fun.  There must be something else they get out of it, like when I force myself to watch upsetting documentaries.  I just have no idea what it is.

RATING: 1/5

405. Third/Sister Lovers

Third/Sister Lovers
Big Star
1978

Tracks
1. Kizza Me 
2. Thank You Friends 
3. Big Black Car 
4. Jesus Christ 
5. Femme Fatale
6. O, Dana 
7. Holocaust 
8. Kangaroo 
9. Stroke It Noel 
10. For You 
11. You Can't Have Me 
12. Nightime 
13. Blue Moon 
14. Take Care 
15. Nature Boy 
16. Till The End Of The Day 
17. Dream Lover
18. Downs 
19. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On 

I had never heard of Big Star before and was a bit wary of an album that had a song called "Holocaust" on it.  There were a few tracks I could have done without, and quite a few unnecessary covers, but it was overall a lot less frightening that I expected.

Every time I was truly impressed with the lyrics, I would look up the song and it would be a cover.  The band clearly has good taste, as they take songs from Nat King Cole and the Velvet Underground, but I still don't think a 1001 album should have so many unoriginal songs, especially when they weren't doing anything particularly inspired with their source material.

I am bitching quite a lot; I actually did enjoy this album.  The singers certainly have charisma.  And you know what?  "Holocaust" wasn't that bad!  Wait, let me rephrase that...

RATING: 4/5

404. Crossing the Red Sea With the Adverts

Crossing the Red Sea With the Adverts
The Adverts
1978

Tracks
1. One Chord Wonders
2. Bored Teenagers
3. New Church
4. One the Roof
5. New Boys
6. Gary Gilmore's Eyes
7. Bombsite Boy
8. No Time to Be 21
9. Safety in Numbers
10. New Day Dawns
11. Drowning Men
12. On Wheels
13. Great British Mistake

Now this is finally some punk I can get into.  The band has the same anger and frustration of the Sex Pistols but the musicians are actually talented!  This felt like one of the smartest albums I have heard in a long time.

The opening track is "One Chord Wonders" and immediately sets the tone of the album with lyrics like "I wonder how we'll answer when you say we don't like you, go away."  It's self deprecating, fun, and never falters.  The message in each of the songs are rather uninspired (everything is terrible blah blah blah), but that's punk for you.  I actually found the songs to be quite melodic, considering the genre.

A wonderful album that has completely reconsidering punk music.  And a female bassist?  How mythical.

RATING: 4/5

403. Honky Tonk Masquerade

Honky Tonk Masquerade
Joe Ely
1978

Tracks
1. Cornbread Moon
2. Because of the Wind
3. Boxcars
4. Jericho (Your Walls Must Come Tumbling Down)
5. Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown
6. Honky Tonk Masquerade
7. I'll Be Your Fool
8. Fingernails
9. West Texas Waltz
10. Honky Tonkin'

I don't think we have had an American album for awhile, but we return now to the United States and to a rather frightening genre from albums past: country music.  I know a lot of people absolutely hate country music.  When I have been on dates (I swear it does happen!) and casting around for conversations subjects, the question "what kind of music do you like?" always comes up.  I swear, every guy I have asked this question to has responded "anything but country."  Every.  Time.  When did people get so boring? 

Anyway, I think country music can be quite beautiful but it can also be the worst thing you've ever heard (after all these years, I haven't forgotten Louvin brothers).  Thankfully, this was somewhere in between.  Yes, there were a few things that made me cringe, like the beginning of the song "I'll Be Your Fool."  Overall, however, this album was a pleasant surprise, with smart lyrics and catchy melodies.  My favorite song was "Jericho" but this album doesn't actually have that many lows.

America didn't embarrass me that much with this album.  But we still have disco for that I suppose.

RATING: 3/5

402. All Mod Cons

All Mod Cons
The Jam
1978

Tracks
1. All Mod Cons
2. To Be Someone (Didn't We Have A Nice Time)
3. Mr Clean 
4. David Watts 
5. English Rose
6. In The Crowd 
7. Billy Hunt 
8. It's Too Bad
9. Fly 
10. Place I Love 
11. 'A' Bomb In Wardour Street
12. Down In The Tube Station At Midnight

This is another fantastic album!  It makes me wonder if we are going to have a streak of brilliance, instead of duds!  Am I jinxing us?

I loved this album.  It was so delightfully British.  Although I don't know why anyone would be at tube stations at midnight; don't they stop running at 12:00?  Or perhaps I am betraying my own squareness by even asking such a question.  In any case, any sign of a mod revival excites me and I definitely got a strong Who vibe from this album.

Personally, I couldn't stop listening to the song "It's Too Bad" but lyrically, all of these songs are brilliant.  I suppose it's not a particularly new sound, but it is a damn fun one.

RATING: 4/5

401. This Year's Model

This Year's Model
Elvis Costello
1978

Tracks
1. No Action
2. This Year's Girl
3. Beat
4. Pump It Up
5. Little Triggers
6. You Belong To Me
7. Hand In Hand
8. I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea
9. Lip Service
10. Living In Paradise
11. Lipstick Vogue
12. Night Rally

I must confess, I wasn't overly impressed by The Only Ones and was hoping that the 400s would kick off on a higher note (that was a music pun for the people in the back).  However, this album more than made up for the meh quality of our previous entry.

Elvis Costello is back, ladies and gentlemen.  My frequent readers will recall that I absolutely loved My Aim is True.  This managed to be even more impressive.  While his previous album reminded me heavily of Buddy Holly, this sound was something entirely his own. I had this on while my sister was working and I kept exclaiming "No, wait!  This one is my favorite."  I think I might have deserved a punch to the face.

Is Costello punk?  I am probably betraying my own ignorance with this question (although that ship might have sailed already).  But this album had a really punk feel to it, just a tad more intelligent lyrics wise.  

RATING: 5/5

400. The Only Ones

The Only Ones
The Only Ones
1978

Tracks
1. Whole Of The Law
2. Another Girl Another Planet
3. Breaking Down
4. City Of Fun
5. Beast
6. Creature Of Doom
7. It's The Truth
8. Language Problem
9. No Peace For The Wicked
10. Immortal Story

400!  I decided to squeeze two albums in today to make it to this milestone.  I certainly will say again and again that I don't really know anything about music (I will also frequently have that shouted at me in the comments).  However, I do love Lists, learning about new things, and complaining!  Thank you everyone who has been reading and following along.  I promise I won't stop until I have completed this project!

Okay, let's see.  The Only Ones.  This was quite an improvement from our last album, though, of course, that isn't saying much.  It is quite a dark album, as the songs "Breaking Down" and "Beast" seem to hint at.  However, it feels pretty upbeat.  It actually reminded me of the Ramones, a band I completely adore.

Still, this was pretty average.  None of the songs struck me as particularly catchy.  In fact, I am trying to remember the melodies and I can't.  So, in summary, a completely ordinary way to kick off the 400s.

RATING: 3/5

399. Dub Housing

Dub Housing
Pere Ubu
1978

Tracks
1. Navvy
2. On The Surface
3. Dub Housing
4. Caligari's Mirror
5. Thriller!
6. I Will Wait
7. Drinkin' Wine Spodyody
8. Ubu Dance Party
9. Blow Daddy O
10. Codex

I started to play this album when my sister was in the room as she was getting ready to leave for the gym.  Basically, she fled as quickly as possibly.  So, you know, if you ever need motivation to go work out, I can chase you around with my laptop while playing one of these albums.

Before my sister ran from our apartment, she asked, "How can you understand what they are saying??"  Well, truthfully, I couldn't.  As my frequent readers are always hearing me whine about how I can't enjoy an album without getting into the lyrics, I will spare everyone the diatribe.  Is the point of punk or even post punk to listen to the lyrics?  Or is it to just understand the anger that is driving these musicians?  I guess I get it now and am angry too.  But mostly since this took thirty-five minutes of my life away.

This kind of just felt like a continuation of Pere Ubu's first album, Modern Dance, that I listened to a couple of weeks ago.  There was no fresh feeling to this.  My sister also said, "this isn't what music should be!"  I suppose that is a rather heavy statement, but one that I am inclined to agree with after this album.

RATING: 2/5

398. Vento de Maio

Vento de Maio
Elis Regina
1978

Tracks
1. Vento De Maio 
2. Sai Dessa 
3. Tiro Ao Alvaro
4. So Deus E Quem Sabe 
5. O Que Foi Feito Devera 
6. Nova Estacao
7. Saudade Eterna
8. Outro Cais 
9. Rebento
10. O Trem Azul
11. O Medo De Amar E O Medo De Ser Livre
12. Se Eu Quiser Falar Com Deus 
13. Aprendendo a Jogar 

I managed to squeeze this album in today while reading Dostoyevsky's The Devils.  I was originally going to watch a movie, but I can't find the next one on my blog anywhere.  The List life is a struggle.  Anyway, let's get going with my second choice.

This is a Brazilian album and I am afraid I keep procrastinating learning Portuguese. I didn't even the slightest idea what any of these songs were about.  Frequent readers may have learned that lyrics are my main attraction to music.  I was very confused what I was listening to.  I think this is a compilation album, but there seem to be conflicting reports about when it was released.  Some sources say that it came out in the 80s but obviously, the Book is saying 1978.  So wait...what's happening?

Is it possible for me to like an album that isn't English?  I think so, as I remember taking to Miriam Makeba quite a bit.  This one just didn't do it for me.  I liked her voice, but I felt like I was listening to the same song over and over again (this is most likely because of the language).  

I can't really fault the album for my lack of enjoyment, since it is just a culture clash.  But I doubt this one will remain in my memory for long.

RATING: 2/5

397. Parallel Lines

Parallel Lines
Blondie
1978

Tracks
1. Hanging On The Telephone 
2. One Way Or Another 
3. Picture This 
4. Fade Away And Radiate 
5. Pretty Baby 
6. I Know But I Don't Know 
7. 11:59 
8. Will Anything Happen 
9. Sunday Girl 
10. Heart Of Glass
11. I'm Gonna Love You Too 
12. Just Go Away

Finally, we get an album that, to me, actually resembles music I could listen to.  And, of course, other reviewers label it "vacuous."  It's amazing how I always love anything that hipster music lovers hate.  I am like the anti-hipster.  But does that make me even more of a hipster?  This is heavy stuff.

If you have never heard the song "One Way or Another," please invite me to your hobbit hole sometime.  That was the only track title I recognized but it turns out I was familiar with "Sunday Girl" as well.  I feel like I have heard it in a movie before, but I cannot for the life of me remember what the film was.  Good thing that kind of stuff doesn't bother me. *grabs tissues for nose bleed*

I loved the energy behind this album.  I have been somewhat um, romantically frustrated myself lately.  There was a lot of anger behind some of the songs but it still was always fun and catchy.  I have been listening to "Heart of Glass" on repeat since I started writing this review. 

I am going to go ahead and give this album five stars.  That was fun.  I guess let's go back to being artsy...

RATING: 5/5

396. The Man-Machine

The Man-Manchine
Kraftwerk
1978

Tracks
1. Die Roboter
2. Spacelab
3. Metropolis
4. Modell 
5. Neonlicht
6. Die Mensch-Maschine

It is albums like this that make me think the whole List is an elaborate joke, designed to make us all look like idiots.  I feel like I heard of someone doing that with modern art.  Someone had their child paint a few pictures, claimed the paintings were done by an anonymous artist, and critics went gaga over them.  Now we have some band playing with sound effects and it makes me wonder: "Is this a joke?"

The songs feature laser sounds, with the band saying "We are robots" approximately a thousand times.  I felt like I was listening to the same song for an hour, which would be annoying even if it was a track I loved.  As is, I think it is going to resurrect the migraine I had on Monday.

Wow, I miss the sixties.

RATING: 1/5

395. The Modern Dance

Modern Dance
Pere Ubu
1978

Tracks
1. Non-Alignment Pact 
2. Modern Dance 
3. Laughing 
4. Street Waves
5. Chinese Radiation 
6. Life Stinks 
7. Real World 
8. Over My Head 
9. Sentimental Journey 
10. Humor Me

I have written around four thousand movie reviews today, so I am a bit tapped out at the moment.  I really want to catch up all my blogs, though, so my lovely music lovers will just have to suffer with a subpar review.  I apologize that you are my least loved child.

I had never heard of the band, this album, or any of the songs.  I also am not really clear what art punk is.  So gather around everyone, to hear my well informed opinions!

I had a hard time getting into this one.  I had to remind myself to pay attention to the music, because I was in danger of zoning out completely and having absolutely no memory of this album.  Because of my diligent efforts, I am able to partially recall parts of this.  I will take my medal any time you are ready.

With a name like Modern Dance, you might suspect something truly frightening and pretentious.  Instead, you just get something quite mediocre.  For example, here are the lyrics to "Life Stinks": "Life stinks, I'm seeing pink, I can't wink, I can't blink, I like the Kinks, I need a drink, I can't think, I like the Kinks, Life stinks."  At least it made me feel better about my own writing.

RATING: 3/5

394. Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols

Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
1977

Tracks
1. Holidays In The Sun
2. Bodies
3. No Feelings
4. Liar
5. God Save The Queen
6. Problems
7. Seventeen
8. Anarchy In The UK
9. Submission
10. Pretty Vacant
11. New York
12. EMI

I expected this to be the best of the best.  If I was going to have to listen to punk music, this should be the album I listen to.  The Sex Pistols have such name recognition that this has to be fantastic, right?  I was shocked by how mediocre this album actually turned out to be.  

There are plenty of albums on this List that are absolutely revered by a group of followers who generally like leaving nasty comments on this blog.  Even when I can't enjoy them myself, I see something in them that might cause the ecstasy and subsequent pretentious of my fellow listeners.  You know, I kid.  Or perhaps I am brooding.  In any case, the quality of this album simply wasn't that good, and I don't think anyone can defend that.  The vocals  were terrible and the lyrics were merely there for shock value.  I felt like they were trying to distract us from the lack of quality by making a lot of noise.

Perhaps I came into this with too high of expectations and should have just enjoyed it for what it was, without looking for deeper meanings.  Of course, that is what I try to do most of the time and I get yelled at in the comments.  Wow, I am salty today.

RATING: 3/5

393. New Boots and Panties!!

New Boots and Panties!!
Ian Dury
1977

Tracks
1. Wake Up And Make Love With Me
2. Sweet Gene Vincent
3. I'm Partial To Your Abracadabra
4. My Old Man
5. Billericay Dickie
6. Clever Trevor
7. If I Was With A Woman
8. Blockheads
9. Plaistow Patricia
10. Blackmail Man

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have relocated to London.  I am so pleased that this album came along when it did, because this might be the most British-y albums on the List.  Maybe I will mention it on my next pub venture.  It is always fun creating new ways to turn people off.

This album starts with a really creepy song titled "Wake Up and Make Love With Me."  In this song, we learn exactly what it would be like to have sex with Ian Dury.  That is certainly a stone I could have left unturned.  We also learn what he would be like outside of the bedroom with "If I Was With A Woman."  This was possibly even more appalling.

Easily the most obnoxious track was "Clever Trevor."  It sounded like the drunken ramblings of an idiot trying to hit on you at a bar.  However, I still am not going to completely destroy this album.  It truly was atmospheric.  Whether I want to revisit it again is another question.

RATING: 2/5

392. Lust for Life

Lust for Life
Iggy Pop
1977

Tracks
1. Lust For Life
2. Sixteen 
3. Some Weird Sin
4. Passenger 
5. Tonight 
6. Success 
7. Turn Blue 
8. Neighbourhood Threat 
9. Fall In Love With Me

Greetings!  I am writing to all from my new flat in London, where I will be staying for a couple months.  Not only does this mean I might brag more, but it also means I might be learning more about the 1970s music scene during this time.  I plan on visiting Camden this Friday.  So will I have more to say about the albums then "um...the lyrics were okay?"  Stay tuned to find out!

So the lyrics were okay on this album.  Actually, in all seriousness, I thoroughly enjoyed this one.  Like Iggy Pop's previous album, The Idiot, it was produced by David Bowie.  However, it is generally acknowledged that unlike the previous album, it sounds a lot more like Iggy than Starman.  This actually made me enjoy it ten times more than The Idiot.  I am not saying I am a Bowie hater.  In fact, I would never say that on this blog, mostly because of fear for my personal safety.  But the experimental songs just work better with Bowie behind them; they don't fit Iggy's personality as well.

"Passenger" is definitely the most stellar song in the album, but the other tracks don't disappoint.  Sad to see Iggy go.


RATING: 4/5

391. My Aim Is True

My Aim Is True
Elvis Costello
1977

Tracks
1. Welcome to the Working Week 
2. Miracle Man 
3. No Dancing 
4. Blame It on Cain 
5. Alison 
6. Sneaky Feelings
7. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes 
8. Less Than Zero 
9. Mystery Dance 
10. Pay It Back 
11. I'm Not Angry 
12. Waiting for the End of the World

If this is what punk is, I have been seriously misguided before.  This was one of the best albums I have ever listened to.  This is embarrassing, but at one point I had to just get up and dance.  I stopped rather quickly.  For one thing, I am a terrible dancer.  For another, it felt like I was trying to prove to myself that I was a free spirit.  The point is, every album on the List should make me embarrass myself like that.

I had only ever heard "The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes" before.  This is a great track, but I actually have completely fallen in love with the ballad "Alison."  Of course, there are some political messages for even the most pretentious music lover.

One of the best albums out there and worthy of repeated listens.

RATING: 5/5

390. Bat Out Of Hell

Bat Out Of Hell
Meatloaf
1977

Tracks
1. Bat Out Of Hell
2. You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth
3. Heaven Can Wait
4. All Revved Up With No Place To Go
5. Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad
6. Paradise By The Dashboard Light
7. For Crying Out Loud

I certainly wouldn't have recognized this album for the joke that it is if I hadn't been following The List chronologically.  "You Took The Words Right Out of My Mouth" really does sound like one of the pretentious prog rock songs that we have forced to listen to.  Luckily, once you realize it is a joke, it is actually pretty funny.  It is a joke, right?

I had only heard "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" before.  It's a damn good song, although watching Meat Loaf perform it was kind of disturbing.  Who gave Peter Pettigrew a microphone?

So novelty albums usually make me cringe, but this was actually a fun break from the hard core "masterpieces."

RATING: 4/5

389. Marquee Moon

Marquee Moon
Television
1977

Tracks
1. See No Evil 
2. Venus 
3. Friction 
4. Marquee Moon 
5. Elevation 
6. Guiding Light 
7. Prove It 
8. Torn Curtain

This seems to be one of those albums that very few people have heard of.  If you have heard of it, you are a music aficionado and you probably praise it like it is the last voicemail a deceased loved one left you.  As for me, it didn't leave much of an impression, proving once again that I am more out of place here than a sober person at Woodstock.  I wanted to cover my ignorance here first so the insults in the comments section could branch out a bit.  I try to be considerate of my readers.

I was surprised to see that this was considered punk.  It certainly didn't sound as intense as I am used to in that genre.  I did enjoy this, but can we stop with the ten minute songs?  Let's wrap it up here fellas.  I appreciate stamina as much as the next woman, but this is verging on ridiculous.

So another album that I feel rather stupid for not enjoying very much.  But take heart, fellow List followers.  An Elvis Costello album is coming up.

RATING: 4/5

388. Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
1977

Tracks
1. Moribund The Burgermeister 
2. Solsbury Hill
3. Modern Love 
4. Excuse Me 
5. Humdrum 
6. Slowburn 
7. Waiting For The Big One 
8. Down At The Dolce Vita 
9. Here Comes The Flood

My only experience with Peter Gabriel before this was the slightly cliched song "In Your Eyes."  I guess after that I was expecting extreme mushiness with this album.  Instead, I only got mild mushiness with a hint of every genre ever.

This album was completely all over the place.  I had to look up what genre this even falls under.  "Art rock," which is apparently a thing.  Is that the most obnoxious sounding genre title or what?  Get over yourself.  I am not sure who that is addressed to but someone needs to get over themselves.

Anyway, "Excuse Me" was a damn good song.  "Moribund The Burgermeister" was a little too progressive for me, but hey, I am trying.

RATING: 3/5